Cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cleaning apparatus is disclosed herein having a tank for holding a solvent solution and a lid for covering the tank. An agitating mechanism is carried on the lid including a vertically movable hook for detachably supporting a basket adapted to hold parts for cleaning. The agitating mechanism includes a pneumatic operated piston and cylinder assemblage for actuating the hook in an up-and-down manner.

I nited States Patent 1 1 1111 3,794 053 Jones Feb. 26, 1974 CLEANINGAPPARATUS 3,064,629 11/1962 Story 134/141 x [76] Inventor: Otho Jones,1438 W. l32rd St.,

Q Q QQLQQZQQ Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge [22] F1 d Oct 18 1971Attorney, Agent, or FirmRoger A. Marrs [21] Appl. No.: 190,062 [57]ABSTRACT A cleaning apparatus is disclosed herein having a tank 8134/141 i i Q 3i for holding a solvent solution and a lid for covering g156 162 the tank. An agitating mechanism is carried on the lid 0including a vertically movable hook for detachably supporting a basketadapted to hold parts for cleaning. [56] References Cited The agitatingmechanism includes a pneumatic oper- UNITED STATES PATENTS ated pistonand cylinder assemblage for actuating the 1,481,550 1/1924 Hall 134/141UX hook in an up-and-down manner. 3,044,089 7/1962 'Boynton... 134/156 X3,269,397 8/1966 Woods 134/141 5 Claims, 3 Drawing FiguresPATENTEUFEBZE'QH 3,794,053

C/O/VES INVENTOR.

BY I

CLEANING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionThis invention relates to de-greasing or cleaning devices and moreparticularly to a novel cleaning apparatus capable of agitation dirtyand soiled parts in a solvent solution employing a pneumaticallyoperated piston motor.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, conventional cleaningdevices have been developed which clean and de-grease by subjecting theparts to a spray or dousing with a suitable solvent cleaner. Also, ithas been customary to use a variety of rags, wire pads or the like toassist the solvent in performing its cleaning function. Some attemptshave been made to provide cleaning tanks and containers for permittinggentle agitation of the part in a quantity of solvent in order to effectcleaning. In this regard, mechanisms have been provided for spraying thesolvent onto the parts or for agitating the solvent around the partswhile the parts'are in a fixed location. The solvent is generally aliquid bath into which the parts are submerged and the solvent ispropelled in a circular fashion around the parts to remove foreignmatter and grease therefrom. Elaborate straining devices are generallyemployed so that the solvent may be filtered for reuse and theaccumulation of grease and foreign matter may be removed.

Difficulties have been encountered when employing conventionalde-greasing or cleaning devices which stem largely from the fact thatthey are very expensive, require complex mechanisms for transporting andcirculating the solvent and occupy a substantial area so as to beawkward and cumbersome. Additionally, conventional solvent cleaningdevices generally require an open sink into which the'dirty parts areplaced and require a jet spout for discharging'a pressurized stream ofsolvent into the sink and around the parts. Obviously, problems areencountered with splattering and splashing of the solvent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the difficulties and problemsencountered with prior art cleaning devices are Obviated by the presentinvention which provides a novel cleansing apparatus having a tank forholding a quantity of solvent solution into which a basket loaded withparts intended to be cleaned is submerged. The basket is downwardlysupported by a vertically movable hook. Means for moving the hook arecarried on the lid of the tank so that vertical agitation of the partsis produced. The moving mechanism is a pneumatically operated cylinderand valve assemblage which when operated will repeatedly provide thenecessary vertical movementor continued agitation to insure thoroughcleansing of the parts.

Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide anovel cleansing apparatus for degreasing dirty parts that is under thecontrol of a pneumatic piston and cylinder assemblage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel cleansingapparatus which is economical to produce and that may be operated bynon-technical personnel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel cleansingapparatus that employs a pneumatic motor for agitating parts to becleaned in a vertical motion when submerged in a solvent solution.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novelpneumatic motor for agitating parts in a solvent solution wherein themotor employs a piston and cylinder assemblage. as well as a novelexhaust system.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel cleaningdevice wherein a part to be cleaned may be loaded into a basket andwherein the basket is agitated in a solvent solutionto clean the partsby means of a pneumatic motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present inventionwhich are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in theappended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization andmanner of operation, together with further objects and advantagesthereof, may best be understood by reference to the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the novel cleansing apparatus of 'theprsent invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the cleansing apparatus shown inFIG. 1 as taken in the direction of arrows 2-2 thereof; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the pneumaticmotor employed in the cleansing apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, thecleansing apparatus of the present invention is indicated in the generaldirection of arrow 10 and comprises a tank 11 having a removable lid 12carried on the upper edge of the side wall defining the tank.Preferably, the tank includes a flanged portion 13 about its upper edgeso as to mate with a corresponding flange 14 carried on the lid. Thetank is employed for holding a suitable solvent solution into whichdirty parts are to be submerged.

Secured on the top of the lid 12, there is provided a pneumatic motor 15which is supplied with a source of pressurized air via a hose 16 and ashut-off valve 17.

Referring now in detail to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the tank 11 ispreferably filled with a solvent 18 approximately one-third filled andthat the pneumatic motor 15 is preferably coaxially disposed withrespect to the lid 12 and the tank 11. The motor 15 is secured to thelid by means of securement bolts 20 and 21. A hook 22 downwardly dependsfrom the motor and is slidably related to the motor housing and the lid12 so that the hook may be permitted rectilinear movement in the tank.The hook 22 is located within the solvent solution 18 and is employedfor holding a basket 23 in the solution. The basket 23 includes a hanger24 for placement over the hook in detachable relationship therewith. Thebasket 23 also includes a bottom 25 for supporting the plurality ofdirty parts, such as greasy metal engine parts and the side wall of thebasket is preferably composed of a wide wire mesh construction so as topermit flowthrough of the solvent solution. The bottom is preferablycomposed of a similar mesh so that dirt particles and other foreignmatter will readily pass through the bottom and sidewall of the basketduring the cleansing procedure. The dirt and foreign matter will passthrough the solution and rest on the bottom of the tank. Movement of thebasket 23 is in an up-and-down relationship with respect to the tank inthe direction of the double arrows indicated by numeral 26. Thisup-and-down movement is created by the rectilinear vertical movement ofthe hook 22 as operated by the, pneumatic motor 15.

Referring now in detail to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the pneumaticmotor includes a body housing 30 having a cylinder 31 in which a piston32 slidably moves. The piston 32 includes a bearing portion 33 and theextreme end of hook 22 is secured to one end of the piston by means .ofa lock-nut 34. The shank of hook 22 slidably moves through a bearing 35carried at the base of housing 30.-The opposite end of the piston 32from its end connected to hook 22 includes a guide portion 36 forcoaxially relating an expansion spring 37 to the piston. The pistonfurther includes a shaft 38 about which the spring 37 is disposed andthat terminates in a stop member 40. the shank 38 of the piston isslidably carried through a bearing 41 secured to the end of housing 32opposite to its end carrying bearing 35. An exhaust port 42 is formed inthe top of housing 30 to permit the expulsion of air from cylinder 31 asthe piston moves upwardly in the cylinder. A port 43 is provided forcontrollably expelling air from cylinder 31 when the piston movesdownwardly when biased by the expanding force of spring 37.

A bore 44 is provided in housing 30 that is parallel to the cylinder 31and this latter bore is occupied by a rod 45 having a stop portion 46located at one end exteriorly of the housing 30.

Rod 45 is slidably disposed within the bore 44 and it is to be notedthat the lower end of bore 44 is slightly reduced so as to permitslidable engagement of the lower end of rod 45 with the reduced diameterportion of the bore 44. The extreme lower end of rod 45 never leaves thereduced diameter portion of the bore 44 and the lower end of the rod isillustrated in dotted lines by numeral 47 to indicate the uppermostposition of the rod in bore 44. Reduced portion 50 is formed in rod 45so as to permit air from valve 17 to be introduced past the rod 45 intothe cylinder 31 via a port 51. it is also to be noticed that housing 30is provided with an exhaust port 52 for exhausting air during thedownstroke of piston 31. Also, stop element 46 is disposed under stopmember 40 carried on shank 38 of the piston 32.

In actual operation, the source of pressurized air is introduced to themotor 15 by turning the valve 17 to its on position. At this time, thepressurized air is introduced into the chamber around reduced portion 15of rod 45 and the air is introduced below the piston in cylinder 31 viainput port 51. The presence of pressurward movement when the top of stopmember 40 engages with the uppen'nost stop element 56 carried on theextreme end of the rod 45. Upward movement of both the piston and therod is arrested when spring 37 is fully compressed. At this time, theforce of the spring initiates movement of the piston in a downwarddirection through cylinder 31 and the underside of stop member 40engages with the intermediate stop element 46 as indicated in brokenlines by numeral 57. This engagement will effect the return of rod 45through the bore 44.

During the upward stroke of piston 32, air within the upper chamber orportion of cylinder 31 is expelled through port 42. During thedownstroke. air contained within the lower portion or chamber ofcylinder 31 is expelled through both ports 43 and 52. During the upwardstroke of piston 32 the reduced portion 50 of rod 45 will pass or gatewith the orifice 58 supplying pressurized air to the motor and willeffectively cut off the supply so that the spring 37 will initiate thedownstroke of the piston. Once the reduced portion 50 has gated oropened orifice 58, an upward stroke or'cycle of piston 32 is againinitiated.

Therefore, it can be seen that by the use of the present invention areciprocal movement is provided to book 22 causing the basket 23 to movein a continuous up-and-down agitating motion so that the solvent 18thoroughly cleans exposed surfaces of the parts carried in the basket.The device is economical to manufacture and may be used by non-technicalpersons since all splashing or splattering of solvent is avoided. Oncethe parts have been thoroughly subjected to agitation and soaking in thesolvent solution the lid 12 may be removed and the basket 23 taken offof hook 22 whereafter the parts may be removed from the basket.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appendedclaims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A cleaning apparatus for agitating a plurality of dirty parts in asolvent solution comprising:

a tank for holding said solvent solution;

a lid removably carried on said tank enclosing said solvent solution;

a pneumatic motor secured to said lid;

a hook slidably carried on said lid and operable in response to saidmotor to reciprocate in said solvent solution;

a basket detachably carried on said hook for carrying said plurality ofparts;

said pneumatic motor comprises:

a housing formed with a cylindrical chamber or bore movably mounting apiston;

resilient means operating between one end of said piston and one end ofsaid housing normally biasing said piston downwardly;

said hook secured to said piston so as to follow its movement;

means operably coupling a source of pressurized air to said cylindricalchamber for selectively supplying air thereto to forcibly urge saidpiston against the bias of said resilient means;

said last means includes a second bore in said housing parallel to saidfirst cylindrical bore;

a rod slidably disposed in said second bore;

a supply port in said housing interconnecting said first and secondbores; and

said rod having a reduced diameter portion intercommunicating saidsource of pressurized air with said first bore via said supply port.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 including:

a shank fixed to said piston and slidably disposed on said housing;

a stop member carried on the end of said shank exteriorly of saidhousing;

said rod having a pair of spaced apart stop elements exteriorly of saidhousing;

said stop member interposed between said pair of stop elements so as toraise and lower said rod in unison with movement of said piston.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 including:

ports in said housing for expelling air from said first bore to permitreciprocal movement of said piston therein.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 including:

bearings carried on said housing for slidably carrying said shank andsaid hook.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said rod has a firstposition to supply air to said first bore and a second position to closeoff the supply of air.

1. A cleaning apparatus for agitating a plurality of dirty parts in asolvent solution comprising: a tank for holding said solvent solution; alid removably carried on said tank enclosing said solvent solution; apneumatic motor secured to said lid; a hook slidably carried on said lidand operable in response to said motor to reciprocate in said solventsolution; a basket detachably carried on said hook for carrying saidplurality of parts; said pneumatic motor comprises: a housing formedwith a cylindrical chamber or bore movably mounting a piston; resilientmeans operating between one end of said piston and one end of saidhousing normally biasing said piston downwardly; said hook secured tosaid piston so as to follow its movement; means operably coupling asource of pressurized air to said cylindrical chamber for selectivelysupplying air thereto to forcibly urge said piston against the bias ofsaid resilient means; said last means includes a second bore in saidhousing parallel to said first cylindrical bore; a rod slidably disposedin said second bore; a supply port in said housing interconnecting saidfirst and second bores; and said rod having a reduced diameter portionintercommunicating said source of pressurized air with said first borevia said supply port.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 including:a shank fixed to said piston and slidably disposed on said housing; astop member carried on the end of said shank exteriorly of said housing;said rod having a pair of spaced apart stop elements exteriorly of saidhousing; said stop member interposed between said pair of stop elementsso as to raise and lower said rod in unison with movement of saidpiston.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 including: ports in saidhousing for expelling air from said first bore to permit reciprocalmovement of said piston therein.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3including: bearings carried on said housing for slidably carrying saidshank and said hook.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein saidrod has a first position to supply air to said first bore and a secondposition to close off the supply of air.